Book of the Month - June 2025
Anatomy of Peace
Resolving the Heart of Conflict
The Arbinger Institute - ISBN: 978-1523001132 - 2022
Author:
The Arbinger Institute
The Arbinger Institute is an international training, consulting, and coaching firm that specializes in conflict resolution and peacemaking ―whether in families, in organizations, or between communities or nations. Arbinger’s clients range from individuals who are seeking help in their lives to families who are trying to strengthen and rebuild relationships to many of the largest companies and governmental institutions in the world, where Arbinger helps to establish new levels of teamwork and cooperation. For more information about Arbinger, please visit www.arbinger.com.
The Arbinger Institute is an international training and consulting firm that is recognized as a world leader in the areas of leadership, team building, conflict resolution, crisis management, culture change, and culture integration. Arbinger’s clients range from individuals who are seeking help in their lives to many of the largest companies and governmental institutions in the world.
Brief Synopsis:
From the authors of Leadership and Self-Deception (over 2 million copies sold) comes a new edition of this bestseller that has been thoroughly revised to more effectively address the diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges that plague our communities and hinder our organizations.
What if conflicts at home, at work, and in the world stem from the same root cause? What if we systematically misunderstand that cause? And what if, as a result, we unwittingly perpetuate the very problems we think we are trying to solve?
The Anatomy of Peace uses a fictional story of an Arab and a Jew—both of whom lost their fathers at the hands of the other’s cousins—to powerfully show readers the way to transform conflict. We learn how they come together, how they help parents and children come together, and how we too can find our way out of the personal, professional, and social conflicts that weigh us down.
The fourth edition includes revisions and new materials and resources that increase its relevance and usefulness at a time of deeply entrenched divisions throughout society. Additionally, it includes new detailed discussions of the pattern of dehumanization that lies at the heart of today’s most pressing struggles with prejudice and discrimination—challenges that cannot be solved until the origins of bias and discrimination are properly understood and addressed. The new edition is a unique and vital resource for combatting racism and prejudice in their many manifestations.
Insights:
“In every moment...we choose to see others either as people like ourselves or as objects. They either count like we do or they don't.”
“Bruises heal more quickly than emotional scars do.”
“When you begin to see others as people,’ Ben told me, ‘issues related to race, ethnicity, religion, and so on begin to look and feel different. You end up seeing people who have hopes, dreams, fears, and even justifications that resemble your own.”“Don’t misunderstand,” Yusuf added. “Despite our best efforts, we may find that some battles are unavoidable. Some around us will still choose war. May we in those cases remember what we learned from Saladin: that while certain outward battles may need to be fought, we can nevertheless fight them with hearts that are at peace. “And may we remember the deeper lesson as well: that your and my and the world’s hoped-for outward peace depends most fully not on the peace we seek without but on the peace we establish within.”
“...when I betray myself, others' faults become immediately inflated in my heart and mind. I begin to 'horribilize' others. That is, I begin to make them out to be worse than they really are. And I do this because the worse they are, the more justified I feel.”
Should I read it or skip it?
The Anatomy of Peace is a compelling follow-up to Leadership and Self-Deception, continuing the Arbinger Institute’s work of helping people and organizations resolve conflict not just outwardly, but from within. Having read both, I feel like both books need to get added to any leaders’ reading or listening list. While Leadership and Self-Deception introduces the concept of self-betrayal and the "box" we put ourselves in when we justify our mistreatment of others, The Anatomy of Peace goes a step further—it provides a practical roadmap for how to move from a posture of war to a mindset of peace, even in the most emotionally charged conflicts.
This book shines by grounding its message in parable. Through a fictional dialogue between parents, counselors, and leaders at a youth intervention program, the book explores how we often treat others as obstacles, objects, or irrelevancies rather than as people with needs, fears, and hopes like our own. The central insight is that conflict is not about difference—it’s about the way we see and regard each other. And peace begins not in policy or procedure, but in the heart.
From a leadership perspective, The Anatomy of Peace shows how to keep people’s humanity at the forefront. True leadership becomes less about controlling others and more about changing how we see them. When leaders make that shift—choosing to see people as people—they naturally foster accountability, collaboration, and transformation in their teams. These lessons build directly on Leadership and Self-Deception, offering not just diagnosis, but treatment.
Whether you're leading a team, managing a family, or trying to change the culture of an organization, The Anatomy of Peace offers timeless wisdom: peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of a different way of being. Read it not just for insight, but for the invitation to lead from the inside out. Don’t skip it.
Book of the Month - May 2025
For Such A Time as This
Elliot Cosgrove - ISBN: 978-0063417472 - 2024
Author:
Elliot Cosgrove
Elliot J. Cosgrove, Ph.D., a leading voice of American Jewry, is Senior Rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City. Ordained in 1999 at the Jewish Theological Seminary, he earned a doctorate at the University of Chicago Divinity School and is a Senior Hartman Rabbinic Fellow.
Rabbi Cosgrove sits on the Chancellor’s Cabinet of the Jewish Theological Seminary. An officer of the New York Board of Rabbis, he serves on the boards of UJA-Federation of New York, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and Hillel at the University of Michigan. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Rabbi Cosgrove represented the Jewish community at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum during the visit of Pope Francis to New York in 2015 and was honored to represent American Jewry at the 2024 White House Hanukkah party.
Brief Synopsis:
A poignant exploration of what it means to be Jewish today, from a leading voice in modern Judaism, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue
For Jews today, the attack on Israel on October 7th has drawn a clear and irreversible demarcation in time. On that day, the Jewish community woke up to an unrecognizable new reality, witnessing the stark rise in antisemitism, the world’s oldest hatred, in its wake.
But even in this dark hour, the Jewish community is experiencing something profound and beautiful: a deep, abiding connection to community, culture, and faith. Drawing on the rich trove of Jewish history and tradition, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, one of today’s most influential thought leaders and spiritual guides, helps listeners make sense of this fraught time. With warmth and wisdom, Rabbi Cosgrove explores the challenging questions embedded in the soul of contemporary Jewry. Where did all this antisemitism come from, and was it always there? How have Israel and Zionism shaped American Judaism, and what ties us and divides us today? How do we practice Judaism and understand our place in a world that has, without fail, in every century, turned against us?
Knitting together storytelling with ancient teachings, Rabbi Cosgrove helps navigate and understand the landscape of this new reality, turning over questions that have no clear or easy answer in the way only a very good rabbi can.
For thousands of years, the Jewish people have wrestled with what it means to be Jewish. In this often divisive era, Rabbi Cosgrove reminds of how we can come together despite—and even because of—our differences. For Such a Time as This is a guide for a new generation that is reconciling the past with the present and facing the unknown future with courage, spirit, and unwavering hope.
Insights:
“As a people of Genesis and Exodus, we must stand up and stand tall in defense of our people and never lose sight of the joy and the privilege that comes with being a Jew today. Our Jewishness comes from both the push and the pull. Neither one nor the other but the two together must inform who we are and what we will be in such a time as this.”s
“The murders of that day? One would have been too many. As the Talmud teaches, “Whosoever destroys a single soul, it is as if they have destroyed an entire universe.” The attacks were a vile crime perpetrated against innocents, the very foundations of our faith, and the underlying bond of our common humanity.””
“Esther didn’t choose her moment; it chose her. And when the moment came, she put herself on the line, threw her lot in with her people, and rallied them to action. A heroine for her time. A heroine for our time.”s
“Put simply, to reduce my Jewish identity to fighting antisemitism is a victory I refuse to grant my foe. It was great to be a Jew on October 6, and it is still great to be a Jew today. Not just the push, and not just the pull, but the centripetal momentum of the two together—that is the generative force by which our community will be maintained.”
“We must take our part in the curricular and cultural battles in our institutions of higher learning, and we must take Jewish learning to higher levels. We must celebrate our births, bnei mitzvah, and weddings, reminding one another, our children, and most of all ourselves of who we are. Jews must take agency—and joy—in their Judaism.”
“We have taken our Jewish identity for granted for so long. And now, for the first time in our lives, we have begun to ask, What kind of Jews do we want to be? Where do we turn for guidance in such a time as this?”
Should I read it or skip it?
Toward the end of last year, I took a job with Ariel Ministries. This shift in ministry has caused me to explore genres and pick up books I wouldn’t normally. Recently in an Audible 2 for 1 sale, I found this book and thought I would giver it a listen. Here are my thoughts:
In For Such a Time as This, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove offers a deep reflection on the challenges facing the Jewish community today, especially in the aftermath of the October 7th attack on Israel. With clarity and compassion, Cosgrove examines the rising tide of antisemitism and the deepening divides in both the Jewish and global communities. I knew there is a deep divide between Messianic Judaism (Acceppting Yeshua or Jesus as Messiah) and Judaism (still waiting for Messiah). I did not realize the depth of the divide between Jews who made their way to Israel and the Diaspora Jewry (such as American Jewry).
Drawing on Jewish history and tradition, Cosgrove guides readers through the complex questions of contemporary Jewish identity, the role of Zionism, and the ever-present struggle against hatred. He balances storytelling with profound insights from Jewish teachings, making this book a valuable resource for understanding the Jewish experience in this new, uncertain era. He makes the case for Diaspora Jewry being unsafe in the locations they are but more oblivious to the possibilities because America or wherever has tolerated them - unsafe and unperpared are not the same.
Through his wisdom, Rabbi Cosgrove highlights the enduring strength and unity of the Jewish community, reminding us that, despite our differences, there is power in coming together with courage and faith. For Such a Time as This is both a timely reflection and a hopeful call for future generations to navigate the challenges of the present with unwavering spirit. I think you should give this book a listen.
Book of the Month - April 2025
Gentle and Lowly
Dane Ortlund - ISBN: 978-1-4335-6613-4 - 2020
Author:
Dane Ortlund
Dane C. Ortlund (PhD, Wheaton College) serves as senior pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. He is an editor for the Knowing the Bible series and the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series, and is the author of several books, including Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Dane lives with his wife, Stacey, and their five children in Naperville, Illinois.
Brief Synopsis:
Christians know what Jesus Christ has done—but who is he? What is his deepest heart for his people, weary and faltering on their journey toward heaven? Jesus said he is “gentle and lowly in heart.” This book reflects on these words, opening up a neglected yet central truth about who he is for sinners and sufferers today.
Insights:
In the one place in the Bible where the Son of God pulls back the veil and lets us peer way down into the core of who he is…Letting Jesus set the terms, his surprising claim is that he is “gentle and lowly in heart.” - pg. 18
“To speak of God the Father as “the Father of mercies” is to say that he s the one who multiplies compassionate mercies to his needful, wayward, messy, fallen, wandering people.” - pg. 130
“Let Jesus draw you in through the loveliness of his heart. This is a heart that upbraids the impenitent with all the harshness that is appropriate, yet embraces the penitent with more openness than we are able to feel. It is a heart that walks us into the bright meadow of the felt love of God.” - pg. 99
“We err when we draw conclusions about who he (the Father) is subjectively based on what needed to happen objectively.” - pg. 128
Should I read it or skip it?
I was introduced to this book by my college freshman. He was reading it and suggested I check it out. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Books coming from a reformed perspective tend to be more harsh. Totally just my experience. I recognize this could be the people I have been in contact with and not all reformed believers.
Many times in our world we now discussion passion. We talk about heart and who has more of it. We look to the results of a football game and we say they played with “heart.” In this case, Pastor Ortlund spends 23 short chapters building a case about the one time Jesus talks about his heart.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. - Jesus, Matthew 11:29
Ortlund book explores what this means in multiple ways. He discusses the Trinity and what this means for the heart of the Father and Holy Spirit. He reminds us that Jesus is for us. What more could you need to guide you to read it!
Book of the Month - March 2025
Code Name: Pale Horse
Scott Payne with Michelle Shepard - ISBN: 978-1668032909 - 2025
Author:
Scott Payne
Scott Payne is a retired FBI Special Agent who spent twenty-eight years in law enforcement investigating cases against drug trafficking organizations, human traffickers, outlaw motorcycle clubs, gangs, public corruption, and domestic terrorists. He was also a SWAT team operator and instructor for firearms, tactics, and undercover operations. He lives in the southeast with his wife, two daughters, and dogs.
Michelle Shephard
Michelle Shephard is an award-winning journalist, author, and filmmaker who covered terrorism, national security, and civil rights for two decades as a correspondent with The Toronto Star. Her career has taken her around the world, including multiple reporting trips to Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, and Guantanamo Bay. She is based in Toronto, where she lives with her photojournalist husband, a dog named Parker, and their cat Deep Throat.
Brief Synopsis:
For readers of The MAGA Diaries and Hate in the Homeland, an eye-opening and crucial true story of one man risking his life to infiltrate the most dangerous neo-Nazi group in the United States.
When Scott Payne was growing up, he never envisioned a future that included what happened on Halloween night 2019. Out in the woods of Georgia, he tried desperately to save a goat from being sacrificed in a ritual by a group of neo-Nazis without revealing that he was actually an undercover agent.
Now, this retired FBI agent reveals how and why he infiltrated the rapidly growing American Nazi group, The Base. Known as the “Hillbilly Donnie Brasco,” Payne was guided through some of the most terrifying and risky assignments in the FBI’s history by his devotion to his family and his Christian faith.
Timely and unputdownable, Code Name: Pale Horse is an unflinching look at one of biggest threats in national security, as well as an inspiring memoir from an American hero.
Insights:
Should I read it or skip it?
Before diving into this review, I must disclose that I know Scott personally. He and his family exemplify integrity and strength, making it an honor to review his work. That said, I read extensively (35 books so far this year), and it’s a rare privilege to evaluate a book by someone I know. You can find my monthly book reviews at http://dannypricetx.me.
In Codename: Pale Horse, Scott and co-author Michelle Shepard deliver a compelling and gripping narrative from the first page. Drawing from Scott’s remarkable career, the story sheds light on the dark and dangerous world of undercover operations. Few people encounter humanity's darkest realities as Scott has, and he shares these experiences with unflinching honesty and refreshing candor, balanced by a sensitivity that makes the stories even more impactful.
The book also reveals the immense personal sacrifices Scott and his family made to protect others. Their courage and unwavering commitment shine through, offering a deeply human dimension to this extraordinary tale.
I appreciated the pacing of this book. Scott's attention to detail enhances the authenticity of the narrative. Readers will gain a new awareness of the threats posed by "acceleration" (as well as an understanding of it) and the hidden world of hate that most of us overlook. This is not just a thriller but also a wake-up call—a book that is as eye-opening as it is engaging.
If you appreciate stories that reveal the unseen battles fought for our safety, Codename: Pale Horse is a must-read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Book of the Month - February 2025
The Four Workarounds
Paulo Savaget - ISBN: 978-1250827081 - 2024
Author:
PAULO SAVAGET
Paulo Savaget, author of The Four Workarounds, is associate professor at Oxford University’s Engineering Sciences Department and the Saïd Business School. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge as a Gates Scholar and has a background working as a lecturer, consultant, entrepreneur, and researcher finding innovative solutions for a more inclusive world. As a consultant, he worked on projects for large companies, non-profits, and government agencies in Latin America, and the OECD. He currently resides in Oxford.
Brief Synopsis:
We constantly encounter complex problems at home, in our places of work, and in society at large. Even if we had all the time and money in the world, sometimes no good solution can be found. So, what should we do, especially when we can’t wait? The answer: a workaround.
For ages, global corporations have been lecturing small organizations and not-for-profits on how to get things done. As it turns out, it should have been the other way around. In this groundbreaking book, award-winning researcher Paulo Savaget shows how the most valuable lessons about problem-solving can be learned from the scrappiest groups.
Savaget draws most of his examples from small organizations dedicated to social action that have made an art form out of subverting the status quo and have proved themselves adept at achieving massive wins with minimal resources. Through his research, Savaget identified the four workarounds that these groups commonly employ: the piggyback, the loophole, the roundabout, and the next best. With vivid and fascinating examples from his life and travels, he demonstrates how each one works and how to know which one to use when.
The Four Workarounds shows how seemingly intractable problems―from public urination to the challenges of delivering lifesaving medicine to remote communities―were addressed using unconventional tactics. Some of the world’s biggest and most admired companies are already using Savaget’s research to transform the ways they do business. And these same lessons can also revolutionize the ways we approach the challenges we all encounter every day of our lives.
Insights:
“I didn’t plan to study workarounds; I bumped into them as I searched for resourceful ways to tackle complex problems.” - pg. 1
“I then pivoted my research to explore how change makers—entrepreneurs, academics, companies, nonprofits, community groups, and even policymakers—work around obstacles, both on-and off-line, to “hack” all sorts of problems, ranging from global responses to some of the world’s toughest challenges, such as global pandemics, gender inequality, and poverty, to everyday inconveniences. This pivot took me to unexpected places, where I had the privilege of learning from scrappy organizations that don’t get the widespread credit they deserve.”- pg.4-5
“Workarounds are attainable, lower-risk options for deviance and can produce potentionally outsized payoffs. Just because work-arounds require less effort than negotiation and confrontation doesn’t make them less valuable. After all, there is no shame in enjoying low-hanging fruit.” - pg. 174
“Each of the workarounds has a primary element at play. When you think about piggybacks, consider the existing relationships in your situation. Loopholes require paying close attention to different sets of rules. Roundabouts involve examing behaviors that lead to inertia. And if you’re searching for next-best approaches, fiddle with the resources you have on hand. Not every situation is going to necessitate using each of these four workarounds, and that’s okay. In the end, you really need only one workaround for most challenges.” - pg. 204-205
Should I read it or skip it?
The Four Workarounds by Paulo Savaget is a refreshing and engaging look at problem-solving through unconventional means. Drawing on real-world examples from around the globe, Savaget introduces four types of “workarounds” used by resourceful individuals and organizations to navigate complex challenges without relying on traditional, often rigid systems. His storytelling is vivid and accessible, making abstract concepts tangible and actionable. Rather than glorifying shortcuts, Savaget highlights creative, ethical approaches that prioritize impact over bureaucracy.
What makes the book stand out is its empowering message: effective solutions don’t always require massive resources or perfect conditions—they require agility, insight, and boldness. Savaget’s framework invites readers to rethink their assumptions about innovation and embrace a mindset of flexibility. Whether you’re a leader in business, a policymaker, or someone tackling everyday obstacles, The Four Workarounds offers a compelling toolkit for making meaningful change when the usual paths are blocked.
I really enjoyed this book. Some of us think outside the box to create new pathways. Often, I am afraid of being accused of cheating. This book puts words to my constant need to analyze where I can find more efficient and smarter ways to accomplish the mission—especially in ministry settings where time, money, and people are always in short supply. As a church administrator, I’m constantly juggling competing demands, and The Four Workarounds affirmed that innovation doesn’t require a full budget or ideal conditions. Sometimes the most faithful stewardship is found in creative problem-solving that bends the process without breaking the purpose.
Book of the Month - January 2025
Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation
D.A. Carson - ISBN: 978-0801097102 - 2015
Author:
D.A. Carson
D. A. Carson (PhD, University of Cambridge) is emeritus professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The God Who Is There, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (coedited with G. K. Beale), and How Long, O Lord? He is a founding member of The Gospel Coalition and an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world.
Brief Synopsis:
God doesn't demand hectic church programs and frenetic schedules; he only wants his people to know him more intimately, says top-selling author D. A. Carson. The apostle Paul found that spiritual closeness in his own fellowship with the Father. By following Paul's example, we can do the same. This book calls believers to reject superficiality and revolutionize their lives by embracing a God-guided approach to prayer.
Previously published as A Call to Spiritual Reformation, this book has now been updated to connect more effectively with contemporary readers. A study guide, DVD, and leader's kit for the book are available through Lifeway and The Gospel Coalition.
Insights:
“is it not nevertheless true that by and large we are better at organizing than agonizing? Better at administering than interceding? Better at fellowship than fasting? Better at entertainment than worship? Better at theological articulation than spiritual adoration? Better—God help us!—at preaching than at praying?”
“In the biblical view of things, a deeper knowledge of God brings with it improvement in the other areas mentioned: purity, integrity, a willingness to sacrifice, evangelistic faithfulness, better study of Scripture, improved private and corporate worship, better relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ, a heart for the lost, and much more. But if we seek these things without passionately desiring a deeper knowledge of God, we may be running after God’s blessings or pursuing God’s power without running after him.”
“But that means that when we pray, when we ask God for things, we must try to tie as many requests as possible to Scripture. That is an immensely practical step.”
“Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray. We do not drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer. We will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray. That means we must self-consciously set aside time to do nothing but pray.”
Should I read it or skip it?
When a book stops working for me, I stop working on it. I am not sure if it was the format. I listened to this book on my Audible account. I was often confused about the chapter changes. The tracks did not follow the same format as other Audible books (each chapter is a track). I also did not read the progenitor of this book, A Call to Spiritual Reformation.
Praying with Paul by D.A. Carson offers a deep and thoughtful study of the Apostle Paul’s prayers, challenging readers to pursue a richer, more theologically grounded prayer life. Carson walks through several of Paul’s prayers in his letters, unpacking their structure, priorities, and spiritual depth. With clarity and conviction, he shows how Paul’s prayers center on God's glory, the advance of the gospel, and the spiritual growth of others—far from the self-centered patterns often found in modern prayer.
However, I experienced an opposing viewpoint while reading Praying with Paul. I want argue that while the book offers theological depth, it can feel overly academic and inaccessible to the average believer. Carson’s scholarly approach, though insightful, may intimidate the average believing reader who is looking for a more personal or experiential guide to prayer. For some, the emphasis on doctrinal precision and exegetical detail might overshadow the relational and spontaneous aspects of prayer that many Christians find most meaningful.
The book’s tone could be perceived as corrective rather than invitational, leaving some of us feeling as though our current prayer practices are inadequate or spiritually immature. While the call to deeper, gospel-centered prayer is important, a more balanced approach that embraces both structure and intimacy might resonate more widely.
My favorite book by Carson is Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians. I should probably reread & review it at some point. I am not saying skip this book. I am saying skip the Audible version and read the hard copy.
Book of the Month - December 2024
As You Wish
Cary Elwes and - ISBN: 978-1476764047 - 2016
Authors:
Cary Elwes
Cary Elwes is a celebrated English actor who starred in The Princess Bride before moving on to roles in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Glory, Days of Thunder, Twister, and Saw, among many other acclaimed performances. He will always be indebted to The Princess Bride, he says, for changing his life and giving him a career that has spanned decades. He lives in Hollywood, California, with his family. Find out more about Cary Elwes on Twitter @Cary_Elwes.
Joe Layden
Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Joe Layden has written more than thirty books for adults and children, including the critically acclaimed title, The Last Great Fight and the #1 New York Times bestseller The Rock Says. He lives in Saratoga Springs, New York, with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
Brief Synopsis:
From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes the New York Times bestselling account of the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.
The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, The Princess Bride will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.
Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets and backstage stories.
Insights:
“That particular take was the one that ended up in the film. So when you see Westley fall to the ground and pass out, that’s not acting. That’s an overzealous actor actually losing consciousness.”
“Mandy swears that barely a day goes by that he isn’t asked by someone, somewhere, to recite Inigo Montoya’s most famous words, in which he vows vengeance on behalf of his father. “And I never let them down,” he says.”
“Over the past three decades I’ve appeared in nearly a hundred movies and television shows. I’ve been a leading man and a supporting actor and worked in almost every genre. But whatever else I’ve done or whatever else I might do, The Princess Bride will always be the work with which I am most closely associated; and Westley, with his wisp of a mustache and ponytail, the character with whom I will be forever linked. Not Glory, which earned higher critical praise upon release and won more awards; not Days of Thunder or Twister, both of which were summer blockbusters. Not even Saw, which was shot in eighteen days on a budget smaller than most movies spend on catering, and earned more than $100 million; and that’s just fine by me.”
“We had a really fun time working together on the film. With myself as a pirate. And she as a fair maiden. Running off together in the spirit of love and adventure.”
Should I read it or skip it?
I was 11 years old when the movie, The Princess Bride, came out on the big screen. I remember renting it from the video store. I had an Atari and I wanted to be Fred Savage so bad and stay home to play video games all day.
As You Wish by Cary Elwes is an absolute trip down memory lane, especially for fans of The Princess Bride. Reading it felt like catching up with an old friend who’s letting you in on the behind-the-scenes magic of something you’ve always loved. Elwes’s storytelling is warm, funny, and heartfelt, and it’s clear how much the film—and the people involved—meant to him. From hilarious on-set mishaps to touching moments with cast members, every chapter deepened my appreciation for the movie and the relationships that shaped it.
What I loved most was the tone: it’s sincere, nostalgic, and full of affection—not just for the film, but for the people who made it. Elwes includes memories from other cast members too, which adds richness and different perspectives. It’s not just a memoir; it’s a love letter to a story that has meant so much to so many. If The Princess Bride ever made you smile, this book will make you smile even more.
Normally I say read the book first. But in the case, watch the movie first. Then listen to the Audible version of the book. Lots of cast members and Elwes are great to hear rather than just read.
Book of the Month - November 2024
Anti-Burnout: A lighter way to live and lead in a heavy world
Alan Briggs - ISBN: 979-8990065215 - 2024
Author:
Alan Briggs
Alan Briggs helps catalytic leaders leverage catalytic moments for systemic change.
He does this through Leadership Coaching, Sabbatical Coaching, Working Genius training and consulting at Stay Forth. He also connects leaders in meaningful ways through a hub and ecosystem in Colorado Springs called Gather. He has one incredible wife and four incredible kids and loves finding adventures in the Rockies. His next book, AntiBurnout, helps leaders find lightness and longevity.
He curated the "Right Side up Journal" as a three month journey to find healthy and proactive rhythms, and he uses it every day. His latest book "AntiBurnout; a lighter way to live and lead in a heavy world" invites leaders in any field to resist the pull toward exhaustion and overwhelm and experience lighter leadership. The principles, frameworks and tools in this book stem from 13 years of coaching leaders.
Taken from Amazon and Antiburnoutbook.com
Brief Synopsis:
We live in a heavy world, and leaders feel the brunt of it. We need practical ways to not only avoid the burnout epidemic, but lead well for the long haul. Leadership Coach, Alan Briggs, shares practical steps and tools to help you avoid burnout and reach more impact that come directly from his coaching experience with leaders across sectors.
Insights:
“We desperately need healthy and whole leaders to light a path forward with lanterns of hope and optimism, not torches of fear and outrage.”
“When clarity goes up, overwhelm goes down."
“Proactivity allows a leader to play defense and offense, protecting their priorities while capitalizing on new opportunities.”
“When we’re confused about our commitments distractions are overwhelming, but when we’re clear about our commitments distractions are manageable."
Should I read it or skip it?
Book of the Month - October 2024
Apostle: Travels Among the Tombs of the Twelve
Tom Bissell - ISBN: 978-1538707944 - 2023
Author:
Tom Bisell
Tom Bissell is the author of Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia. Born in Escanaba, Michigan, he attended Michigan State University before teaching English as a Peace Corps volunteer in the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan. He returned stateside and worked for several years in book publishing, first for W. W. Norton and later for Henry Holt & Company. Among his editorial endeavors was the restoration to print of Paula Fox’s novels and editing her memoir Borrowed Finery, conceiving and editing The Collected Stories of Richard Yates, and conceiving A Galaxy Not So Far Away: Writers and Artists on Twenty-five Years of Star Wars. His criticism, fiction, and journalism have appeared in Agni, The Alaska Quarterly Review, The Boston Review, BOMB, Esquire, Harper’s Magazine, Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, and Salon. He is currently finishing a collection of Central Asia-themed short stories entitled Death Defier. He lives in New York City and has returned to Uzbekistan four times since completing Chasing the Sea.
His short fiction has won two Pushcart Prizes and has been published in multiple editions of The Best American Series. He has also written eight works of nonfiction, including Apostle and (with Greg Sestero) The Disaster Artist, as well as many screenplays for video games and television. Bissell lives in Los Angeles with his family.
Brief Synopsis:
A profound and moving journey into the heart of Christianity that explores the mysterious and often paradoxical lives and legacies of the Twelve Apostles—a book both for those of the faith and for others who seek to understand Christianity from the outside in.
“Expertly researched and fascinating… Bissell is a wonderfully sure guide to these mysterious men.… This is a serious book about the origins of Christianity that is also very funny. How often can you say that?” —The Independent
Peter, Matthew, Thomas, John: Who were these men? What was their relationship to Jesus? Tom Bissell provides rich and surprising answers to these ancient, elusive questions. He examines not just who these men were (and weren’t), but also how their identities have taken shape over the course of two millennia.
Ultimately, Bissell finds that the story of the apostles is the story of early Christianity: its competing versions of Jesus’s ministry, its countless schisms, and its ultimate evolution from an obscure Jewish sect to the global faith we know today in all its forms and permutations. In his quest to understand the underpinnings of the world’s largest religion, Bissell embarks on a years-long pilgrimage to the supposed tombs of the Twelve Apostles. He travels from Jerusalem and Rome to Turkey, Greece, Spain, France, India, and Kyrgyzstan, vividly capturing the rich diversity of Christianity’s worldwide reach. Along the way, he engages with a host of characters—priests, paupers, a Vatican archaeologist, a Palestinian taxi driver, a Russian monk—posing sharp questions that range from the religious to the philosophical to the political.
Written with warmth, empathy, and rare acumen, Apostle is a brilliant synthesis of travel writing, biblical history, and a deep, lifelong relationship with Christianity. The result is an unusual, erudite, and at times hilarious book—a religious, intellectual, and personal adventure fit for believers, scholars, and wanderers alike.
Insights:
“Were we not standing atop the birthplace of a certain kind of religious nationalism? Zion lay all around us. See where the Prophet left this earth, where Christ rose from the dead, where the Messiah would, finally, appear. Which of us, in this war, was not Judas to someone?”
“Sitting there, I remembered two things about going to mass with my father: he never took Communion because of his and my mother's divorce, and he always tapped his heart three times, with solemn insistence, after the recitation of the Apostles' Creed. I asked him about his ritual once. His eyes filled with such alarm that I instantly knew his heart tapping had something to do with a loss or devastation: his parents' early death, his divorce, his wounding in Vietnam. There was no reason for me to invade that space. Maybe that was the best simple explanation for religion: it filled our spaces.”
“Even after I lost my religious faith, Christianity remained to me deeply and resonantly interesting, and I have long believed that anyone who does not find Christianity interesting has only his or her unfamiliarity with the topic to blame.”
“What Christianity promises, I do not understand. What its god could possibly want, I have never been able to imagine, not even when I was a Christian.”
“Scribes working throughout Christianity’s first five centuries were troubled by the New Testament’s discrepancies...In time, a process called harmonization emerged within Christian thought, which involves taking contradictory passages from different gospels and explaining away the differences by creative imagining.”
Should I read it or skip it?
First, I appreciate Tom’s viewpoint as someone who claimed Christianity and now has recanted his claims. He grew up in the Catholic tradition but has deconstructed his faith. He makes this clear which I think predisposes him to a specific approach any time he discusses any theological topics. He immediately discards any supernatural or faith based assessment.
Second, he can be graphic. When visiting Thomas’ tomb in India, he experienced explosive diarrhea and stomach issues. He uses curse words to discuss other times. Not the worst way to do this book but often language is used when you can’t imagine other words in their place.
Finally, I feel like he took much time dealing with certain topics. Because of this fact, he doesn’t spend enough time on James’ grave. Overall, the book is fourteen hours and seventeen minutes of listening time. He could have used that time better.
Should you read this book? The travel portions contained great descriptions and humor. The theological portions focused on heterodox positions and wrote off most orthodox positions. I gave the book three stars on Goodreads. If you are looking for a travel book and that is your jam, sure. But if you are looking for something to give you better insight into the development of Scripture or how the apostles spent their last hours, I would say you can spend 14 hours in a better way.
Book of the Month - September 2024
A Creative Minority: Influencing Culture Through Redemptive Participation
Jon Tyson and Heather Grizzle - ISBN: 978-0692821237 - 2016
Author:
Jon Tyson
Jon Tyson is a New York City based Pastor and Author.. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the US over two decades ago to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western church. He is the author of "Fighting Shadows" and the bestselling books "The Intentional Father" and "Beautiful Resistance." He graduated from Capital Seminary and serves as the lead pastor of Church of the City New York. Jon has been married to Christy for twenty-five years and has two adult children.
Brief Synopsis:
How should the church engage our culture? The recent political cycle has shattered the lens through which the American church has looked at politics through much of our lifetimes. If we return to the Scriptures, we see Jesus offers us a compelling, alternative vision. His heart was that His followers would be a city on a hill and that people would see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven. This was not dependent on the laws on the books, the rulings of the courts, or the leaders in power. His heart was that we would influence culture through redemptive participation, being not just a faithful, but also a fruitful presence. His vision was that the church functions as a Creative Minority in a dominant culture. A Creative Minority seeks not to propose a way to regain cultural dominance, take back our world for God or revisit an unrealistic and nostalgic past. It humbly proposes that if we take on the posture and identity of a Creative Minority, we may rekindle the light in the bushel, and in so doing, cast a hopeful glimmer on the world. A Creative Minority paints a compelling picture of the way the church is called to participate in these challenging and demanding times - seeking neither to control nor abandon the world, but to love it to new life through redemptive participation.
Insights:
“A Creative Minority is a Christian community in a web of stubbornly loyal relationships, knotted together in a living network of persons who are committed to practicing the way of Jesus together for the renewal of the world.”
“If there is no interpersonal conflict in your life, no elements of your character that you are being confronted about, you are networking, you are not in close community.”
“The early church was strikingly different from the culture around it in this way -the pagan society was stingy with its money and promiscuous with its body. A pagan gave nobody their money and practically gave everybody their body. And the Christians came along and gave practically nobody their body and they gave practically everybody their money.”
Should I read it or skip it?
First, the book is not long. It took me an afternoon to get through it. Second, the concept is sound. Christianity is not the majority in the US anymore. How do we interact with society in a way that makes Jesus famous and us less so? WE know we have the answer but sometimes we are so busy guarding it we forget to be creative evangelists. This would be a book I would suggest everyone reads. From reminding us to participate
Book of the Month - August 2024
Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools
Tyler Staton - ISBN: 978-0310365358 - 2022
Author:
Tyler Staton
Tyler Staton is the Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, and the National Director of 24-7 Prayer USA. He is passionate about pursuing prayer--communion and conversation with God--while living deeply, poetically, and freely. Tyler believes that life is about relationships, prayer is an invitation, and justice is kinship. Tyler is the author of Praying Like Monks, Living like Fools and Searching for Enough. He lives in Portland with his wife Kirsten, and their sons Hank, Simon, and Amos.
Brief Synopsis:
Prayer is the source of Jesus's most astonishing miracles and the subject of Jesus's most audacious promises, and yet, people find prayer to be boring, obligatory, or confusing. Join Tyler Staton, author, pastor, and national director of the 24/7 Prayer movement, as he invites you to discover the incredible gift of prayer.
Within the pages of Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, Staton addresses common roadblocks to prayer and gives you the confidence to come to God just as you are. Through timely biblical teaching, powerful storytelling, and insights on historic Christian practices, Staton gives you the tools you need to:
Express your doubts and disappointments about prayer
Discover and practice multiple postures of prayer, including silence, persistence, confession, and more
Understand and embrace the wonder and mystery of prayer in everyday life
Open or reopen the line of communication with your Creator and experience afresh his divine power on earth
If you're feeling disheartened, disappointed, or distracted in your prayer life, let Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools be your guide as you learn to enjoy prayer in its purest form: a vital, sustaining, powerful connection with God that is more real and alive than you could have ever imagined.
Insights:
“Prayer can’t be mastered. Prayer always means submission. To pray is to willingly put ourselves in the unguarded, exposed position. There is no climb. There is no control. There is no mastery. There is only humility and hope. To pray is to risk being naive, to risk believing, to risk playing the fool.”
“Only when you see who you really are can you also see how profoundly you matter. … ‘Be still, and know I am God.’ Slow down. Remember who God really is. Remember who you really are. That’s prayer.”
“How do we take Jesus up on his power to heal? Confession. Confession is how we turn to him, look him in the eye, and acknowledge his presence here with us, not to judge, but to rescue.”
“Wrestling with God through persistent prayer is a confirmation of true belief, not distressing doubt. Those who only half-heartedly believe don’t take offence at silence. It is only those who believe and believe hard—hard enough to walk out on a limb of faith with our full weight, who feel that limb snap beneath us and send us into a free fall without a harness, who care to wrestle with a God who at times seems fickle—it is only those who are offended by silence.”
“Scripture makes it clear that God collects two things—prayers and tears. This world in its current form is passing away, but our prayers and tears are eternal.”
Should I read it or skip it?
Everyone should read this book. As a pastor, I have read lots of books on prayer. This book has already become one I will reread.
I read this book with my church’s staff. We would spend about 20-30 every Tuesday breaking down the chapters week by week. I also listened to the audio version of the book, so I used both the printed copy and the audiobook I checked out from the library.
I love Staton’s style and his openness and honesty. As a pastor, he is both a teacher and a prayer practitioner. As Christians, we all should be but Staton has a special connection to prayer. He tells stories of his own prayer life as well as those he pastors.
I love how each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of prayer. He doesn't stick to classic cliches about prayer. For instance, in the chapter on prayer as work, he focuses on prayer for the lost. He acknowledges God’s silence and how sometimes it seems like God’s silence can be capricious. The chapter on how prayer helps us deal with the boring or mundane of life generated lots of conversation.
So while I think everyone should read this book, I think reading it with a group of friends provides the best growth and life transformation opportunities.
Book of the Month - July 2024
The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)
Admiral Willam H. McRaven - ISBN: 978-1538707944 - 2023
Author:
Admiral Willam H. McRaven
Admiral William H. McRaven is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Your Bed and the New York Times bestsellers Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations and The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived. In his thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL, he commanded at every level. As a Four-Star Admiral, his final assignment was as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. After retiring from the Navy, he served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System from 2015 to 2018. He now lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Georgeann.
Brief Synopsis:
The title “Bullfrog” is given to the Navy SEAL who has served the longest on active duty. Admiral McRaven was honored to receive this honor in 2011 when he took charge of the United States Special Operations Command. When McRaven retired in 2014, he had 37 years as a Navy SEAL under his belt, leading men and women at every level of the special operations community. In the ensuing four years, he served as Chancellor to the entire University of Texas System, with its 230,000 students and 100,000 faculty and health care workers.
During those four decades, Admiral McRaven dealt with every conceivable leadership challenge, from commanding combat operations—including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Phillips, and the raid for Osama bin Laden.
THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG draws on these and countless other experiences from Admiral McRaven’s incredible life, including crisis situations, management debates, organizational transitions, and ethical dilemmas, to provide readers with the most important leadership lessons he has learned over the course of his forty years of service. Each chapter provides a Make Your Bed-like parable, rich with insights like those featured in his bestselling memoir, Sea Stories, about the specific leadership traits required to be at the top of your game, including:
Who Dares, Wins
Run to the Sound of the Guns
No Plan Survives First Contact with the Enemy
THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG is Admiral McRaven’s clear-eyed treatise on the leadership qualities that separate the good from the truly great.
Insights:
“Show up early. Work hard. Stay late. Have a plan. Deliver on your promises. Share the hardships with the employees. Show that you care. Admit your mistakes. And—did I mention?—work hard.”
“Be decisive. Don't take too much counsel of your fears. Be thoughtful, but not paralyzed by indecision.”
“Be aggressive. When you see a problem, do something about it. That’s what is expected of leaders.”
“To live above the common level of life: to be noble when others may be unprincipled, to be honorable when others may be shameless, to be men and women of integrity when others may resort to dishonesty. What I found in leading an being led by great officers from all branches of service was the importance of character and having a personal code of honor to help guide you through the difficult times.”
“Measure the strength of your employees by their willingness to do the little tasks and do them well.”
Should I read it or skip it?
In short, yes, you should read it! I love how accessible Admiral McRaven’s books are.
To go deeper, here is a better review:
For those who don’t know, because Navy SEALs are often called “frogmen,” the longest-serving active duty Navy SEAL is referred to as “The Bullfrog.” Drawn from his time as the Bull Frog, Admiral William H. McRaven's The Wisdom of the Bullfrog is a masterful guide on leadership, rooted in the timeless principles of honor, courage, and commitment. Pulling from different leadership sayings across all military branches, McRaven offers a straightforward, yet profound, blueprint for effective leadership.
Key Lessons:
Work Ethic and Commitment: McRaven emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication. His mantra, "Show up early. Work hard. Stay late," underscores the relentless effort required to lead effectively. This advice is practical and inspiring, encouraging leaders to lead by example and share in the hardships of their teams.
Decisiveness: In a world often paralyzed by indecision, McRaven’s call to "Be decisive" is refreshing. He advises leaders to take thoughtful action without being hindered by fear, striking a balance between caution and decisiveness.
Integrity and Character: McRaven’s emphasis on character is a cornerstone of his leadership philosophy. He advocates for living "above the common level of life," highlighting the importance of integrity and personal honor. This principle resonates deeply, reminding leaders that their actions and values set the tone for their organizations.
Attention to Detail: The Admiral’s insight that the strength of employees is measured by their willingness to perform small tasks well is a testament to the importance of humility and attention to detail. This lesson reinforces the idea that no task is too small and that excellence in minor duties leads to overall success.
Proactivity: McRaven encourages leaders to be aggressive in tackling problems. His directive to "do something about it" when encountering issues is a powerful reminder that proactive leadership drives progress and resolves challenges effectively.
The Wisdom of the Bullfrog is a compelling read for anyone in a leadership position. McRaven's straightforward advice, grounded in his military experience, offers valuable insights that are both timeless and timely. His emphasis on hard work, decisiveness, integrity, and proactive problem-solving provides a solid foundation for effective leadership. This book is not just a guide; it is a call to action for leaders to rise above mediocrity and lead with honor and excellence.
Highly recommended for leaders at all levels, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog is a testament to the enduring power of strong, principled leadership.
Book of the Month - June 2024
The Way of the Shepherd
Kevin Leman & William Pentak - ISBN: 978-0-310-25097-5 - 2004
Author:
Dr. Kevin Leman
Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known Christian psychologist, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author of fifty books, including Have a New Kid by Friday, The Birth Order Book, and Making Your Children Mind without Losing Yours. A master communicator, Dr. Leman is a frequent guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows such as The View, Oprah, Today, Fox & Friends, and Focus on the Family. He and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson, Arizona. They are the parents of five children and two grandchildren.
William Pentak
William Pentak has twenty-two years of proven success in revitalizing under-performing organizations. An author, columnist, pastor, consultant and speaker, he has traveled across the nation delivering keynote addresses and seminars. An MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, William was one of the last hires made by Enron before the company imploded in bankruptcy. He currently works in External Communications at Reliant Energy in Houston, Texas.
Brief Synopsis:
Discover a fresh perspective on the art of leading in Dr. Kevin Leman's story about a young reporter who lands the meeting of a lifetime and walks away with the keys to exceptional leadership. The Way of the Shepherd points you beyond dated trends and out-of-touch management techniques to the strategies that will make you a truly outstanding leader.
When William Pentak had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview Ted McBride, one of the most respected CEOs in America, he was shocked by what McBride was willing to share. McBride taught him the seven secrets he inherited long ago from his mentor--an eccentric but brilliant professor who passed on these time-tested management principles that, while ancient in their origin, are still applicable in today's fast-paced, high-tech world.
Throughout The Way of the Shepherd, you'll learn how to infuse your work with meaning, no matter your role, title, industry, or the size of your team. Uncover the tried-and-true best practices for how to engage, energize, and ignite your workforce by:
Getting to know your team, one person at a time
Relentlessly communicating your values and your mission
Defining the cause for your people and showing them where they fit in
Having a heart for the people that you're leading
Understanding that great leadership isn't just professional, it's personal
If you're ready to transform your team, create a culture of belonging, and truly learn to lead by example, it's time to discover The Way of the Shepherd.
Insights:
“Great leaders instill a sense of meaning and belonging in their followers by putting the personal imprint of who they are and what they stand for on their people.”
“If you give your people halfhearted leadership, you’ll get a halfhearted following. But if you invest yourself in them, if you have a heart for them, your people will return your investment with a heartfelt following.”
“First, when directing your people, use persuasion, not coercion. Instead of making pronouncements, make requests. Offer suggestions and ideas. Don’t dictate and demand; instead, advocate and recommend.”
“people with negative attitudes don’t have a learner’s heart. Dumping such individuals off your team will hurt in the short run, but not in the long run. You have to remember that star performers with an attitude put a constant drag on everyone else. The price you pay for their performance is constant agitation. People with negative attitudes can’t help but stir the pot.”
Should I read it or skip it?
I recently picked up The Way of the Shepherd, a book recommended as part of our Student Ministry Academy’s summer reading. It also provided a great opportunity for shared discussions with my daughter, who attends Life Point Academy.
This book, written as a parable, was a quick read for me. Despite its brevity, it efficiently conveys powerful leadership principles. Each chapter concludes with a concise recap, reinforcing the key lesson.
If you manage people, this book is a must-read. It offers practical insights that are both timeless and relevant, making it a valuable addition to any leader's library.
Book of the Month - May 2024
Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business
Charles Duhigg - ISBN: 9780812993394 - 2016
Author:
Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and the author of The Power of Habit, which spent over three years on New York Times bestseller lists. His second book, Smarter Faster Better, was a bestseller. His latest book, Supercommunicators, was published in February, 2024, and is also a bestseller.
Charles currently writes for The New Yorker magazine.
A Yale University and Harvard Business School graduate, Charles has frequently contributed to This American Life, NPR, The Colbert Report, PBS’s NewsHour, and Frontline.
Charles led the team that won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in explanatory journalism for “The iEconomy,” a series that examined the global economy through the lens of Apple. That series included examinations of such topics as the factories in China where iPhones and iPads are manufactured.
Charles has also received The George Polk Award, the Gerald Loeb Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors Medal, the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, and other honors.
While a reporter at the Los Angeles Times, Charles reported from Iraq about American military operations.
Before becoming a full-time journalist in 2003, Charles worked as an analyst for American Property Global Partners, a private equity firm and co-founded SWPA Education Management Group, L.L.C., which developed education programs for medically underserved areas.
He was also, for one terrifying day in 1999, a bike messenger in San Francisco.
Charles lives in Santa Cruz with his wife and two children.
Taken from charlesduhigg.com/about
Brief Synopsis:
In The Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Charles Duhigg explained why we do what we do. In Smarter Faster Better, he applies the same relentless curiosity and rich storytelling to how we can improve at the things we do.
At the core of Smarter Faster Better are eight key concepts—from motivation and goal setting to focus and decision making—that explain why some people and companies get so much done. Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics—as well as the experiences of CEOs, educational reformers, four-star generals, FBI agents, airplane pilots, and Broadway songwriters—this book reveals that the most productive people, companies, and organizations don’t merely act differently. They view the world, and their choices, in profoundly different ways.
Smarter Faster Better is a story-filled exploration of the science of productivity, one that can help us learn to succeed with less stress and struggle—and become smarter, faster, and better at everything we do.
Insights:
“The choices that are most powerful in generating motivation, in other words, are decisions that do two things: They convince us we’re in control and they endow our actions with larger meaning.”
“A sense of control can fuel motivation, but for that drive to produce insights and innovations, people need to know their suggestions won’t be ignored, that their mistakes won’t be held against them. And they need to know that everyone else has their back.”
“Stretch goals, paired with SMART thinking, can help put the impossible within reach.”
“The best entrepreneurs are acutely conscious of the risks that come from only talking to people who have succeeded,” said Don Moore, the Berkeley professor who participated in the GJP and who also studies the psychology of entrepreneurship. “They are obsessed with spending time around people who complain about their failures, the kinds of people the rest of us usually try to avoid.”
Should I read it or skip it?
Book of the Month - April 2024
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
Chris Voss and Tahl Raz - ISBN: 9781847941497 - 2016
Author:
Chris Voss
A 24 year veteran of the FBI, Chris Voss is one of the preeminent practitioners and professors of negotiating skills in the world. He is the founder and principal of The Black Swan Group, a consulting firm that provides training and advises Fortune 500 companies through complex negotiations. Voss has taught for many business schools, including the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, Harvard University, MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, among others.
Tahl Raz
Tahl Raz is a storyteller of big ideas in business, technology and the social sciences that are transforming the way we work and live. An award-winning journalist and best-selling author, he has edited and published in everything from Inc. Magazine and GQ to Harvard Business Review and the Jerusalem Post. Management guru Tom Peters called his first co-authored book, “Never Eat Alone,” one of “the most extraordinary and valuable business books” of recent history. The book is still in hardcover over a decade later and is now used as a textbook in MBA programs around the world. He has held roles as a Chief Content Officer, CEO of an online education company called MyGreenLight, and founder and editor-in-chief of Jewcy Media. He lives in New York City with his wife, daughter, and a very fat Pug named Bibi.
Brief Synopsis:
A former international hostage negotiator for the FBI offers a new, field-tested approach to high-stakes negotiations—whether in the boardroom or at home.
After a stint policing the rough streets of Kansas City, Missouri, Chris Voss joined the FBI, where his career as a hostage negotiator brought him face-to-face with a range of criminals, including bank robbers and terrorists. Reaching the pinnacle of his profession, he became the FBI’s lead international kidnapping negotiator. Never Split the Difference takes you inside the world of high-stakes negotiations and into Voss’s head, revealing the skills that helped him and his colleagues succeed where it mattered most: saving lives. In this practical guide, he shares the nine effective principles—counterintuitive tactics and strategies—you too can use to become more persuasive in both your professional and personal life.
Life is a series of negotiations you should be prepared for: buying a car, negotiating a salary, buying a home, renegotiating rent, deliberating with your partner. Taking emotional intelligence and intuition to the next level, Never Split the Difference gives you the competitive edge in any discussion.
Insights:
“If you approach a negotiation thinking the other guy thinks like you, you are wrong. That's not empathy, that's a projection.”
“Hope is not a strategy”
“Negotiation is not an act of battle; it’s a process of discovery. The goal is to uncover as much information as possible.”
“Mirrors work magic. Repeat the last three words (or the critical one to three words) of what someone has just said. We fear what’s different and are drawn to what’s similar. Mirroring is the art of insinuating similarity, which facilitates bonding. Use mirrors to encourage the other side to empathize and bond with you, keep people talking, buy your side time to regroup, and encourage your counterparts to reveal their strategy.”
“This is listening as a martial art, balancing the subtle behaviors of emotional intelligence and the assertive skills of influence, to gain access to the mind of another person. Contrary to popular opinion, listening is not a passive activity. It is the most active thing you can do.”
Should I read it or skip it?
I really enjoyed this book. I worked for the US Border Patrol and have known a few federal agents. Voss’ stories reminded me of sitting in the conference room listening to these men who were heroes telling their stories. For that reason alone, this book is worth the listen.
Second, negotiation and sales have not been one of my strengths. I connected with the idea, “Negotiation is a process of discovery,” and the second idea, “Every negotiation begins when we hear the word, ‘No.’” In the past, I have regarded a “no” as a closed door. Voss explains we should expect to hear it. Every piece of information sets boundaries and gets us closer to the answer of what the other person wants.
In the end, this book can help anyone access the skills necessary to be a better negotiator and never split the difference.
Book of the Month - March 2024
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
Brené Brown - ISBN: 978-0399592522 - 2018
Author:
Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She also holds the position of visiting professor in management at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.
Brené has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of six #1 New York Times best sellers and is the host of two award-winning Spotify podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.
Brené’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and her titles include Atlas of the Heart, Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. With Tarana Burke, she co-edited the best-selling anthology You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience.
Brené’s TED talk on the Power of Vulnerability is one of the top five most-viewed TED talks in the world, with over 50 million views. Brené is the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix, and in March 2022, she launched a new show on HBO Max that focuses on her latest book, Atlas of the Heart.
Brené spends most of her time working in organizations around the world, helping develop braver leaders and more courageous cultures. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie, and a weird Bichon named Lucy.
Brief Synopsis:
Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential.
When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work.
But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start.
Four-time #1 New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe. She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question:
How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?
In Dare to Lead, Brown uses research, stories, and examples to answer these questions in the no-BSstyle that millions of readers have come to expect and love.
Brown writes, “One of the most important findings of my career is that daring leadership is a collection of four skill sets that are 100 percent teachable, observable, and measurable. It’s learning and unlearning that requires brave work, tough conversations, and showing up with your whole heart. Easy? No. Because choosing courage over comfort is not always our default. Worth it? Always. We want to be brave with our lives and our work. It’s why we’re here.”
Whether you’ve read Daring Greatly and Rising Strong or you’re new to Brené Brown’s work, this book is for anyone who wants to step up and into brave leadership.
Insights:
“I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who dares to develop that potential.”
“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”
“If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, I’m not interested in or open to your feedback. There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their lives but who will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgment at those who dare greatly. Their only contributions are criticism, cynicism, and fearmongering. If you’re criticizing from a place where you’re not also putting yourself on the line, I’m not interested in what you have to say.”
“So often, when someone is in pain, we’re afraid to say, “Yes, this hurts. Yes, this is a big deal. Yes, this sucks.” We think our job is improving things, minimizing the pain.”
Should I read it or skip it?
So this is my first foray into the world of Brené Brown. I teach in a weekly leadership program, and one of my students suggested this book. I did some research on the author. She attended the University of Texas and I am predisposed to appreciate Longhorns, so I may have some bias. Second, I understand people with education who use the scientific method. I think reading this book will be beneficial for anyone who leads.
Brown challenges leaders to be vulnerable and to move outside the traditional management role. Her writing might seem touchy-feely but her conclusions are based on research conducted as a scientist. I believe this book moves the needle from management to leadership by utilizing many of the attributes God has endowed to humans. Daring to lead with humility and clarity provides followers with clear directions but also develops trust between the leader and follower. A great example of being clear and leading with humility can be found in Brown’s response to the recent controversy around her comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
I have recommended this book to others and I highly recommend it to you.
Book of the Month - February 2024
The Path to Being a Pastor: a guide for the aspiring
Bobby Jamieson - ISBN: 978-1-4335-7665-2 - 2021
Authors:
Bobby Jamieson
Bobby Jamieson serves as an associate pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. His pastoral responsibilities include preaching and teaching, overseeing the church's pastoral internship, and facilitating church planting and revitalizing in the DC area. Originally from California, Bobby came to CHBC as a pastoral intern in 2008, then worked for 9Marks as an editor for several years. He has an MDiv and ThM from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a PhD in New Testament from the University of Cambridge, where he also taught Greek. Bobby and his wife, Kristin, have four children, Rose, Lucy, William, and Margaret.
Bobby is the author of several books, including Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in the Love and Holiness of God, Going Public: Why Baptism Is Required for Church Membership, Jesus' Death and Heavenly Offering in Hebrews, The Paradox of Sonship: Christology in The Epistle to the Hebrews, and The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring.
Taken from Capital Hills Baptist Church Website.
Brief Synopsis:
A man who’s been transformed by Christ and desires to preach the gospel might say he feels called to be a pastor.
This personal conviction, while heartfelt, doesn’t acknowledge important, challenging steps necessary to be a qualified leader. So where should full-time ministry begin?
In The Path to Being a Pastor, Bobby Jamieson explains why it’s better to emphasize “aspiration” over “calling” as men pursue the office of elder and encourages readers to make sure they are pastorally gifted before considering the role. He shares his own eleven-year experience preparing to be a pastor by walking potential leaders through different stages of ministry training, from practical steps―such as cultivating godly ambition and leadership, observing healthy churches, and mastering Scripture―to personal advice on building a strong family and succeeding in seminary. Emphasizing the importance of prayer, godly counsel, and immersion in the local church, Jamieson encourages men to ask Am I qualified? instead of Am I called? when considering a life in ministry.
Insights:
Seeking counsel is simple: find wise people and get them to share their wisdom with you. Especially important here are the pastors of your church…Don’t just ask; listen. Seeking counsel does not mean always agreeing with it. - pg. 38
Pursue godliness. Pursue godliness more than you pursue position or publicity or prestige. Pursue godliness more than you pursue the pulpit. Pursue godliness more than you pursue others’ recognition of your godliness. Pursue godliness when no one is looking and no one cares. Pursue godliness when it seems like godliness is not getting you where you want to go. - page 53
Sometimes, faithfulness on your wife’s part will mean denying herself so you can spend yourself in ministry. Sometimes, faithfulness on your part will mean saying no to ministry so you can minister to your wife. In the past couple of years, I have declined several outside preaching and teaching requests and even cancelled an international trip, because I judged that my responsibilities at home took priority. - page 121
Should I read it or skip it?
Before I jump into yes or no, I want to say a word about being a practitioner. I appreciate when someone is a practitioner first and foremost. A voice gains credibility when the person speaking on the topic has experience and knows the subject deeply. For Jamieson, this book comes from his experience as an elder at Capital Hill Baptist Church. He has walked the process of aspiring to pastoral ministry as well as preparing for it.
Second, I love the idea of aspiring. Jamieson does a great job of sorting out the ideas of calling vs aspiring. Too often, I think too many pastors mistake being called with wanting to be a pastor. For many people, the nobility in serving God or the affirmation they receive can weigh on their desires and override their wisdom or discernment about their calling. So the idea of aspiring rings true.
“In my view, saying “I aspire” is more biblical, more humble, more accurate, more fruitful, and more freeing” - page 28
Jamieson’s statement allows the aspiring pastor to humble himself and look to God and his people to answer his questions about calling.
Finally, should you read this book or not? Anyone preparing for leadership as a pastor or working to be an elder should read this book. I believed in it enough that I have a stack I like to hand out to aspiring, young pastors. Second, I think anyone who will serve on a pastoral selection board should read this book in preparation for the process of choosing. This book belongs to a niche of pastoral leadership. It might not be for everyone but it can be for anyone.
Book of the Month - January 2024
Smart Brevity
Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz - ISBN: 978-1-5235-1697-1 - 2022
Authors:
Jim VandeHei
Jim VandeHei is the co-founder, CEO and Chairman of Axios, a media company focused on breaking news and invaluable insights across business, politics, technology and the world. Axios helps readers and viewers get smarter, faster across the consequential topics reshaping our country and lives. As CEO, VandeHei has steered Axios into becoming one of the most celebrated digital media success stories of the past decade. VandeHei is also an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning docu-news series, “Axios on HBO.”
Before Axios, VandeHei co-founded and was CEO of Politico, the media company that upended and revolutionized political and policy journalism in Washington, New York, and Europe. Overseeing the editorial and business teams, VandeHei was the leading strategist behind its highly scalable and successful business model. Before this, VandeHei spent more than a decade as a reporter, covering the Presidency and Congress for The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. He was named National Editor of the Year in 2016.
VandeHei is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Mike Allen
Mike Allen is a co-founder of Axios, a news and information platform focusing on business, tech, politics and other topics shaping the future.
Mike is responsible for Axios editorial coverage and writes the flagship daily newsletters, Axios AM and Axios PM.
Mike was a co-founder of Politico, where he created the Playbook franchise and helped build the company for its first decade. He has been named several times to Vanity Fair's “New Establishment” list.
He is also an alumnus of TIME, The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The (Fredericksburg, Va.) Free Lance-Star.
Allen is from Orange County, Calif., and graduated from Washington and Lee University.
Roy Schwartz
Roy Schwartz is the co-founder and President of Axios, a media company focused on breaking news and invaluable insights across business, politics, technology and the world. Axios helps readers and viewers get smarter, faster across the consequential topics reshaping our country and lives. As President, Schwartz has led Axios through multiple fundraising rounds, overseen all company strategy and business operations and most recently launched Axios HQ, an internal communications software platform to help teams communicate more effectively. Schwartz also serves as executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning docu-news series “Axios on HBO.”
Under his leadership, Axios was listed as one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies 2018” and announced as Washington Business Journal’s “2021 Fastest Growing Companies.” Schwartz has been named as one of DCInno's 2016 "50 on Fire" for marketing and advertising, and as 2015 FOLIO 100 “Corporate Catalyst.”
Schwartz is the former chief revenue officer for POLITICO. Prior to POLITICO, he was a Partner at Gallup’s management consulting practice in Washington, DC and California advising Fortune 500 companies on employee and customer engagement.
Schwartz was born in Israel and grew up in England. He has a bachelor's degree and M.B.A. from the University of Maryland.
Brief Synopsis:
Brevity is confidence. Length is fear. This is the guiding principle of Smart Brevity, a communication formula built by Axios journalists to prioritize essential news and information, explain its impact and deliver it in a concise and visual format. Now, the co-founders of Axios have created an essential guide for communicating effectively and efficiently using Smart Brevity—think Strunk and White’s Elements of Style for the digital age.
In SMART BREVITY: The Power of Saying More with Less, Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz teach readers how to say more with less in virtually any format. They also share communications lessons learned from their decades of experience in media, business and communications.
Insights:
“You can’t rally people around a strategy or an idea if they don’t understand what you’re saying—or zone out.” - pg 14
“Smart Brevity, in written form, has four main parts… 1. A muscular tease, 2. One strong first sentence, or “lede”, 3. Context or “Why it matters”, 4. The choice to learn more, or “Go deeper.” - pgs 24-25
“Data has a funny way of humbling you. It left us naked, fully exposed to the truth: Almost now one was reading most of our words. We filled holes in newspapers, but they were black holes, sucking in our time and energy. Yours too.” - pg 36
“Have the courage to take your hands off the keyboard” and “Blobs of text make the eye sad.” - pg 37
“Pope Francis, in September 2021, told Catholic priests in Slovakia to cut homilies from 40 minutes to 10, or people would lose interest.” - pg 44
“Cowards hide in clauses.” - pg 48
Should I read it or skip it?
Over the last few months, I have been challenged to streamline my communication style. If you haven’t read “Listen Like You Mean It” by Ximena Vengochea, I suggest learning to listen first. However, communication requires clear sending as well as receiving. So in Smart Brevity style, here is my review:
If you shorten the amount of words you use by being intentional and smart, you will increase your communication ability.
Why It Matters: Most people suck at communicating their thoughts and use lots of words to cover up their inability to trim and to be intentional with what they say.
Going Deeper:
The Smart Brevity style can give you tools to be better at communicating.
The less you say the more you say.
The better at communication you become in a world of people who suck at communication, the more you will stand out.
Go get a copy of this book, read it and start your journey to better communication today!
Book of the Month - December 2023
The 6 Types of Working Genuis
Patrick Lencioni - ISBN: 978-1637743294 - 2022
Author:
Patrick Lencioni
Patrick M. Lencioni is the author of more than a dozen best-selling books, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Ideal Team Player, and The Advantage. The pioneer of the organizational health movement, he has become one of the most sought-after speakers in the world. Pat’s firm, The Table Group, has consulted with thousands of leaders around the globe, in every type of industry, from corporations to start-ups, from churches to non-profits. Pat has been married to his wife, Laura, for thirty years and they have been blessed with four sons.
Brief Synopsis:
New York Times best-selling author Patrick Lencioni unveils a truly groundbreaking new model that will change the way we think about work and teams forever.
The 6 Types of Working Genius is the fastest way to help people identify the type of work that brings them joy and energy, and avoid work that leads to frustration and burnout.
Beyond the personal discovery and instant relief that Working Genius provides, the model also gives teams a remarkably simple and practical framework for tapping into one another’s natural gifts, which increases productivity and reduces unnecessary judgment.
In classic Lencioni fashion, Pat brings his model to life in a page-turning fable that is as relatable as it is compelling. He tells the story of Bull Brooks, an entrepreneur, husband, and father who sets out to solve his own frustration at work and stumbles into a new way of thinking that changes the way he sees his work, his team, and even his marriage.
What sets this book—and the model behind it—apart from other tools and assessments is the speed at which it can be understood and applied, and the relevance it has to every kind of work in life, from running a company to launching a product to managing a family.
In addition to this book, Lencioni and the Table Group have created a 10-minute assessment that helps individuals quickly identify their gifts and apply this model to themselves and their teams. Join the hundreds of thousands of people who have already discovered their Working Genius, and experience the transformation in your work, your team, and your life.
Learn more about the Working Genius at WorkingGenius.com.
Insights:
“The six types defined: Wonder -> Invention - > Discernment -> Galvanizing -> Enablement -> Tenancity” - pg 181
“Genius vs. Competency vs. Frustration - Even though each type is called a genius, no one person can claim all six as their individual geniuses. We all have areas where we thrive, areas where we struggle, and areas that fall somewhere in between.” - pg. 181
“A leadership team cannot be cohesive if its members don’t understand and tap into one another’s geniuses.” - pg. 215
“A different but related problem experienced by many people who are stuck doing work that is not aligned with their gifts is burnout.” - pg. 223
Should I read it or skip it?
Normally I am really big on Pat Lencioni’s book. However, in this case, I don’t think this book gets the reader where we want to go. I felt like he does a great job unpacking the concept of the “Working Genius” for the reader. The book lives up to the expected parable/model style Lencioni utilizes in most of his books. However, with so many types of personality tests and strengths finders, this one feels like just another to figure out. The other part of this book is the utilization of people’s giftings. What if you have a secretary or intern with Wonder? Do you release them from their job to perform the role? Do you put people into other positions and for large companies or teams, do you change the hierarchy of reports based on the Genius model? I am sure this process works well in a small business but I am not sure of the scalability.
I love Lencioni and have read almost everything he has written. I think we have to figure out the usability issue. The church where I currently work uses both the Enneagram and several tests to hire. In reading this book as a team, we mapped out who on the team has the different giftings. However, we don’t have a clear or consistent strategy for healing to implement the model into our overall team or individual teams.
Definitely a good read. I wouldn’t skip it but I wouldn’t look to base my entire life on the insights either.
Book of the Month - November 2023
The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee
Paul Gregory - ISBN: 978-1635768213 - 2022
Author:
Paul Gregory
Paul Gregory is a Research Fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and a pioneer in the study of Soviet and Russian economics. A student of the fabled Harvard Russian Research Center, he received his PhD from Harvard in 1969. His textbook on the Russian economy was used to teach more than two generations of students. Gregory taught at the University of Houston as a Cullen Distinguished Professor. He has taught at Moscow State University, Free University of Berlin, and Viadrina University. In addition to his scholarly work, he has been an active blogger on Russian affairs for Forbes, The Hill, and Wall Street Journal. He has presented his Women of the Gulag and Lenin's Brain on C-SPAN's BookNotes. He co-produced with Mariana Yarovskaya the Women of the Gulag documentary which was shortlisted for the 2019 Academy Awards.
Brief Synopsis:
The closest friend of Lee Harvey Oswald and his Soviet wife Marina upon the couple’s arrival in Texas breaks a sixty-year silence with a riveting story of his time with JFK’s assassin and his candid assessment of the murder that marked a turning point in our country’s history.
Merely two hours after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, television cameras captured police escorting a suspect into Dallas police headquarters. Meanwhile at the University of Oklahoma, watching the coverage in the student center, Paul Gregory scanned the figure in dark trousers and a white, V-neck tee shirt and saw the bruised and battered face of Lee Harvey Oswald. Shocked, Gregory said, “I know that man.” In fact, he knew Oswald and his wife Marina better than almost anyone in America.
After sixty years, Paul Gregory finally tells everything he knows about the Oswalds and how he watched the soul of a killer take shape.
Identified by the FBI as a “known associate of LHO,” Gregory soon faced interrogations by the Secret Service. Later he would testify before the Warren Commission. Here, in The Oswalds, he offers the intimate details of his time spent with Lee and wife Marina in their run-down duplex on Mercedes Street in Fort Worth, Texas, and his admission into the inner world of a young marriage before candidly assessing the murder that marked a turning point in our country’s history. His riveting recollection includes memories both casual and deadly serious, such as the dinner at his parents’ house introducing Marina to the “Dallas Russians,” a front-yard incident of spousal abuse, and a further rift in the marriage when he exposed to Marina that Oswald was not the dashing, radical intellectual whose Historic Diary would be a publishing sensation. Gregory also gives a fascinating account of his father’s role as an eyewitness to history, serving as Marina’s translator and confidante in the first four days after the assassination.
As a scholar and skilled researcher, Gregory debunks the vast array of assassination conspiracy theories by demonstrating that Lee Harvey Oswald did it and did it alone—that the Oswald he once called a friend had the motive, the intelligence, and the means to commit one of the most shocking crimes in American history.
Insights:
I listened to this book. It was mostly a story with no real quotes to be had.
Should I read it or skip it?
Being from Dallas, November always evokes memories of the Kennedy assassination. From Parkland Hospital to the Texas School Book Depository, I remember seeing these landmarks as a kid and wondering what was going through Lee Harvey Oswald’s brain. If you are from Dallas or have an opinion on conspiracy theories, this book is a decent read. I got it on the 2-for-1 sale at Audible. I appreciate Gregory’s proximity and his in-depth knowledge. However, I was not entirely enthralled by this book. My vote would be to skip it.